W Connection 2, New York Red Bulls 1

August 5, 200912:00AM EDT

Red Bull New York Media Relations

EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ- The New York Red Bulls fell 4-3 on aggregate in its 2009-10 CONCACAF Champions League Preliminary Round series against Trinidad and Tobago club, W Connection, after losing the second leg, 2-1, at Giants Stadium Wednesday night. The Red Bulls are eliminated from the tournament while W Connection advances to the Group Stage. New York tied W Connection 2-2 in the first leg in Marabella, Trinidad and Tobago last Thursday.

W Connection had the first opportunity of the match in the eighth minute when William Silva De Oliveira was put into the Red Bulls’ half with space after he made a diagonal run. However, he wasn’t able to put his shot on frame. Six minutes later, defender Mike Petke headed a corner kick back into the box that W Connection goalkeeper Marvin Phillip had to punch away.

In the 16th minute, forward John Wolyniec nearly put the Red Bulls ahead, connecting on an Albert Celades free kick and putting it over the bar. Soon after though, Wolyniec helped the Red Bulls earn the lead. Jorge Rojas made a streaking run into the W Connection half and played a give-and-go with Ernst Oebster. Rojas found Wolyniec and the forward one-timed it under a sprawling Phillip and into the net.

New York nearly doubled its lead in the 31st minute. Jeremy Hall had space on the right wing and delivered a cross to an open Rojas, who volleyed it from close range at Phillip. Philip, however, was able to knock it away.

The visitors tied the second leg and the series five minutes from halftime. Clyde Leon found Andre Toussaint with time in New York’s defensive half. Toussaint dribbled the ball towards the box before creating enough space to fire a left-footed shot past goalkeeper Danny Cepero and inside the right post.

Toussaint then gave W Connection their first lead of the game in first half stoppage time. Red Bulls defender Kevin Goldthwaite tried to pass it from the top of New York’s penalty box, but Toussaint was there to intercept it and went near post with his shot, sliding it into the net.

Cepero was called upon to make a save in the 48th minute, as Hughton Hector got free on the left side of the penalty box and blasted an attempt that the goalkeeper punched away. Less than 10 minutes later, Red Bulls midfielder Seth Stammler had a good look of goal, but he pushed his shot wide left.

The Red Bulls kept knocking on the door in the 62nd minute. Oebster found Celades at the top of the box and his one-time try was blocked by a fully-extended Phillip. Nine minutes after, Celades cut it to his left foot and hit a blast over the bar from 20-yards-out.

Red Bulls midfielder Matthew Mbuta entered the match with 10 minutes left to play and immediately had a good chance to score after he weaved through the W Connection defense and rifled a shot that went right at Phillip.

New York was missing the services of forward Juan Pablo Angel (concussion), defender Carlos Johnson (metatarsal recovery) and forward Macoumba Kandji (right hamstring strain) due to injury. The Red Bulls were competing in their first CONCACAF Champions League after qualifying by virtue of being a 2008 MLS Cup Finalist.

New York starts a five-game regular season homestand on Aug. 15 when they face Chivas USA at 7:00 PM ET (TV: MSG; Radio: WADO 1280 AM). For tickets, call the Red Bulls at 1.877.RBSOCCER or log onto www.newyorkredbulls.com.